It was the kick heard ‘around the world.
Kamaru Usman — the reigning welterweight champ and pound-for-pound one of the best fighter on the planet heading into Saturday’s UFC 278 — was displaying precisely why he hadn’t misplaced a combat since 2013 in his title tilt towards Leon Edwards.
After being taken down for the primary time within the UFC within the first spherical, Usman charged again with a flurry of huge strikes in rounds 2-4, his legendary wrestling pedigree shining by means of as he regarded to finish one other title protection.
Spherical 5 was the identical precise story. Usman, who trains at excessive altitude in Denver, CO, appeared contemporary and energetic, remaining on the assault as his opponent scrambled to quell the onslaught. And whereas Usman’s conditioning pushed him ahead, Edwards regarded nearly as good as defeated, making little effort to retaliate and exit with a “bang.”
As an alternative although, because the clock ticked underneath a minute, Edwards closed the curtain on Usman with a surprising shot, faking out his foe with a deft lefty jab and coaxing Usman proper into his fast-approaching foot.
Surprising is not the phrase to explain the turnaround. It was dumbfounding, and it left all the viewers in a glop of collective speechlessness.
“Undisputed” cohost Shannon Sharpe was one of many many who was left with out a voice instantly after the knockout.
However Monday morning, he put his awe from Saturday into phrases.
“… Edwards is a distinct fighter than the one which misplaced to Usman in 2015. He was doing an amazing job catching Usman with some good photographs, however Usman was profitable the rounds. What Usman did was slip a punch, and lean somewhat bit too far, and that left foot planted completely upside his head.
“That is the factor about UFC … Till the bell goes off within the fifth, no one is out of a combat, as a result of like that — a foot, an elbow, a fist — it is over! As quickly because it landed, it was over. [Referee] Herb Dean simply came visiting as a result of he knew [Usman] wasn’t getting up from that. … One mistake and it is [over].”
Leon Edwards snatches Kamaru Usman’s UFC title with last-minute KO
Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe share their reactions to the mind-blowing comeback from Leon Edwards at UFC 278.
Edwards hoisting the belt as the brand new welterweight champion was not a consequence Skip Bayless foresaw in any respect.
“I stated, ‘I’m not going to purchase that combat,’ Bayless mirrored. “I will simply watch the outcomes on the pc. … I am watching with one eye, and swiftly … What? As Dana White stated, that is what makes this sport the best on the planet.
“Usman fought with absolute and complete confidence all the night time. He fought the right combat. Properly, virtually, apart from mere seconds left.”
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